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Monday, January 21, 2013

MANILA, Philippines—Like wildfire, the recent “controversial” interview of Filipino entertainment editor-journalist Ricky Lo with “Les Miserables” female lead, Anne Hathaway that has been circulating on social networking sites drew mixed reactions among netizens and local celebrities.

Though Hathaway was seen smiling and laughing all throughout, she appeared irritated by a few questions of the veteran show-biz columnist.

Lo asked how did she lose weight for the role and gain it back again, Hathaway declined to answer, saying it’s something personal.

Hathaway plays Fantine, the ill-fated character of a poor, pretty innocent woman who becomes a prostitute.

Hathaway’s mother Kathleen Ann “Kate” McCauley played the role in the original “Les Miserables” cast that was toured in the United States. Hathaway cited in several interviews how she learned a lot from her mom.

Lo asked if Hathaway got some pointers from her mother, she answered with a straight “No.”

When Lo asked her how she was able to play the role of a poor woman when she is “perceived to have lived a life of luxury and privilege,” Hathaway declined again, citing it’s “very personal.”

The role was also played by Lea Salonga in 2010 for the 25th Anniversary of “Les Miserables”.

In the interview, Lo showed an SMS from Salonga that apparently said something about Salonga’s eagerness to see the movie. Hathaway reacted positively, seemingly flattered and was all smiles saying, “I adore her.”

But when Lo asked for a message to Salonga, “who is looking forward to meet you in person” Hathaway declined again, saying, “We’ve already talk about that.”

At the end of the more than four-minute interview, Lo asked Hathaway to invite her Filipino fans to see the movie.
The still-smiling Hathaway said, “Why don’t you invite them, they’d rather hear it from you.”

While many netizens lambast Lo for what they described as a rather “disgraceful interview” with general questions that seemed more appropriate to lesser-known celebrities, Lo’s colleagues in the industry defended him, citing his long stint in entertainment journalism.

Lo has been entertainment editor and columnist of a national newspaper for decades. He is also co-host of “Startalk,” a Saturday entertainment talk show on GMA7, on which his live interviews are usually shown.

Jim Paredes in a Facebook thread described the interview as “a big cultural gap.”

A theater actor posted: “When you interview an actor, most especially someone really big, you ask about the craft, the production process. Don’t ask personal questions, unless you are Oprah. Avoid intrigues. And most especially, it is not a time to flaunt who you ‘know’ and compare them with the subject. Otherwise, the interview will turn out bad. Really bad. Even embarrassing.”

Earlier links to the said interview have been deleted though more have been posted again with some parodies highlighting Lo’s “gaffes.”

You said we are really quick to judge Ricky Lo but you're the one who is calling Anne Hathaway an "insercured bitch". Okay. So, I guess your quick to judge Anne Hathaway too?

Anyway, this event is a perfect example of a big difference in cultural identity. Anne is a professional, world renowned. Ricky Lo is known, here, in the Philippines, for the most part and I guess he is used to interviewing local celebrities so he used the same tactics to interview Anne which was wrong. Mr. Lo should have stuck to professional questions and strayed away from personal ones, as what has been cited in this article.

Two different cultures, clashing. If Mr. Lo was more prepared and well oriented with the craft of interviewing a world renowned artist, then maybe this interview would have gone smoothly.

As for Anne, I think I would be quite pissed off as well if he asked me those questions. I mean, heres some journalist prying about your life from the get go. Maybe a smooth transition and a polite beginning would have been better.

As the saying goes "to whom much is given, much will be required". What I’m trying to point out is that she doesn't have to act RUDE just because someone asked her questions that look insulting. She should have expected varied questions from A to Z beyond her imagination and answer them in a very polite manner. I am expecting more from her because she’s already on top. Her attitude towards Ricky in this interview is just as crazy as the questions asked. I am very disappointed with her actions. She just lost a fan.

Ricky Lo is a Philippine Star columnist, not Inquirer. I never liked him, I don't care how long he's been doing the interviews and writing for a broadsheet, just like Boy Abunda, he is over rated. He do not usually research his subjects before the interviews. I hope that interviewers will take the Theater Actor's advise posted by FB. Be that as it may, I read it before that Journalists are usually being briefed not to ask particular questions specially personal ones, specially with A Lists stars.

I think Boy Abunda actually asks interesting questions and engages the interviewee. My big problem with Abunda is he doesn't know how to listen. Every time I watch him, I cringe at how he interrupts his guests, from big names like Nicholas Sparks to the guest audience at Bottomline. He feeds them lines and waits for them to agree.

I don't know. When will the Philippines have even an Ellen or an Oprah, or at least anyone who knows how to ask questions and listen to answers.

everybody gets bad days sometimes. this is definitely one of Ricky's. now referring to the opportunity to have an international star see us for the depth of our conversations, there is one word: Sayang!

Actually, feeling close works if you know how to ask the right questions and make the interviewee feel at ease. There's this other video by a Filipino on Youtube, although that Pinoy's been in the US for some time and is used to interviewing celebs, but he did was "feeling close" and it works. Because he wasn't an ass.

No way!!! Someone professional in the movie field would be better. Yung talagang mahilig manood at nagre research sa mga hollywood stars. Hindi yung para may maipadala lang na magtatatong at masabing from philstar!

same generic questions were asked??? ohhh phhuuuullleeezzz akala ko ba he's on top of his league eh bakit generic t personal questions lang ang alam nya??? and most of his interview will include some questions in relation to the philippines na waley naman kinalaman sa movie???? he's just so full of him self BULOL naman at utal

obviously ricky lo is loosing his bolts na?, maybe its about time he retires and let the younger generation do the interviews, he knows the protocol, he knows the boundaries especially if you interview an international celebrity/personality, they arent your typical next door neighbor in manila? and as a professional journalist, he knows that all questions should be about the movie being promoted and not anne hathaway herself? hello? the backdrop of the set tells it all, its not a bio interview or one on one like ellen degeneres/oprah/david letterman of which the celebrity guested in "their" show, again ricky lo forgot that he isnt in GMA7 studios, or in his office desk where the interviewee just walk in, it was he who was given the interview spot, fyi, not all journalists are given that opportunity, kaya nga the creation of TMZ evolve, when one can do ambush interviews without going thru a road manager/agent/handlers...its about time we wake up, its actually a shame for him to behave such, makapal lang ang mukha kesyo may pangalan sa industry? kesyo one had a big break in the past, he deserved the majestic acclamations? there are young journalists out there who can do (3 mins only!) interview better and not put to shame the professionalism of philippine journalism, ok?

Agree. So what if he had a "long stint in entertainment journalism." Just because he has had a long stint doesn't mean he was good/is still good :P And that still doesn't take away the fact that this interview SUCKED.

ayan we got used to the bakya and intruding style of our local reporters.sana magpaka world class naman kayo.stick to questions about the craft.foreign artists value their privacy so much, and it is just right.ang mga pinoy artists medyo pabaya kungdi sipsip sa press para di sila tirahin ng press.we all get what we deserve.you should not complain na nabastos ka ni hathaway.

Anne does not want personal questions, she just want to talk about the movie. She hates talking about her weight loss. Anne's handlers should have reviewed the questions first to avoid this embarrassment.

I was surprised Ricky didn't ask what was her favorite sleeping attire. Well, the interview was typical of a Ricky Lo. I see nothing with the interview. Maybe, Ricky thought he was interviewing a Filipino star Nothing wrong also with Anne's reaction. She's always been like that even to the Western press, why change just because of Ricky. And am sure Ricky experienced far more worse than this. He'll live thru this.

I've been trying to think of someone else who could have done it better but i can't think of any. All showbiz correspondents / journalists here are more accustomed to doing interviews with local celebs, thus the cultural gap. Sino sa tingin nyo pwede?

Ricky Lo may not be the best interviewer but Anne Hathaway did not have to be so rude. I heard Matt Lauer ask similar questions, but she wasn't rude at all. Racist or bitch? Also, I just learned that she is right now, considered, unofficially the most annoying person in Hollywood. Try searching in Google her name and the words "annoying" and "hate". She didn't want to invite us Filipinos to watch her movie? She doesn't have my sympathy.

As the saying goes "to whom much is given, much will be required". What I’m trying to point out is that she doesn't have to act RUDE just because someone asked her questions that look insulting. She should have expected varied questions from A to Z beyond her imagination and answer them in a very polite manner. I am expecting more from her because she’s already on top. Her attitude towards Ricky in this interview is just as crazy as the questions asked. I am very disappointed with her actions. She just lost a fan.

Anne Hathaway is a good actress that could entertain Filipino. But, sad to know that the interview with Ricky Lo to her is not as good as he interview other people. We should understand that sometimes we could not please everybody.